8 I Will Never Go Back

Baragaon – Mrityunjay's Cottage - Present Day

"I have not gone back to my hotel in over 24 hours. They will be looking for me," muttered Shivani, looking at Mrityunjay. After Saanvi's arrival the previous evening and the confrontation they had with her, Mrityunjay had gone very quiet. He did not speak for the rest of the time Saanvi was in the house. It was only after she left, that he had come down, to have dinner.

The next morning, he had been up before her, making tea and letting her sleep until late. She had the nightmares again and had only slept in the early hours. That was no less a miracle in itself. Back in Mumbai it was impossible to sleep even a wink. But thanks to Mrityunjay, she could go back to sleep.

"Let them look. They'll never find you. They'll think.... And we can be together always," he completed.

"NO, no," she said, her brows knotting in seriousness. "I am going back and you are coming with me," she said decisively.

"NO," he said, banging his hands hard on the dining table. "I will not go back, do you understand? I will NOT GO BACK. And I will not let you go back there as well. I hate everything about these humans and their scheming worlds. They are leeches, sucking the blood out of you. NO," he shot up from the table and walked out, leaving his breakfast unfinished.

Shivani ran after him and was literally panting as she reached him, close to a stream a few hundred meters away from his cottage. Mrityunjay had not lost any of his stamina it seemed. As he stood there, rock still, his hands dangling to his sides, Shivani knew there was only one way of coaxing him. She put her right hand into his left hand and stood next to him, admiring the stream running by.

Mrityunjay looked at her, the naked pain on his face unhidden. There were no secrets between them. She knew what went on in the innermost recesses of his heart. She looked at him, understanding his pain. "Gaekwad Mansion is our home Mrityunjay. Its where we belong, you belong. You have responsibilities, towards your family, your mother." Shivani paused to glimpse at him. At the mention of his mother, Mrityunjay turned away. She knew he didn't like to talk about her, but still turned him around to face her. "We have to go back my love," she told him affectionately.

Mrityunjay's gaze was fixed on Shivani. "You see that stream?" he pointed in the direction of the waters, his eyes unwavering,fixed on her.

"Yes,"she said, looking at him quizzically. "I was found, floating in this stream, close to Saanvi's place, three years ago. If it hadn't been for her and her family, I would be dead today," he stated nonchalantly.

Shivani watched, as her heart thudded hard, still reeling with the information Mrityunjay had given her. "I want to know everything," she whispered, as a single drop of tear emerged from her eye. "All that happened back then," she peered at him, the colour draining from her face.

Baragaon – 3 Years Ago – After Mrityunjay Was Found

No one knew anything about him; who he was, where he came from, his name nor anything about his family. All that the villagers of Baragaon knew was, that he was saved due to the grace of Lord Shiv. They called him the blue one or Neel, for when he was found, he was all blue - simply Neel. Mrityunjay accepted the name, thankful for the anonymity it had presented him with. It did not bring any questions with it. He simply was Neel – no justifications or clarifications were needed.

If anyone dared to probe for further information, he made his displeasure known, in no uncertain terms. "Mind your business if you don't want to end up with a few broken bones," he would retort angrily. One look at his lean, well-built frame and the frown on his face, was enough to intimidate anyone. He rarely spoke, leave alone smile or interact. It seemed that the man was constantly on fire, as though he had swallowed the most venomous poison in the whole wide world.

A few days after he had recovered, Neel had disappeared from the village. No one knew where he had gone. He had vanished as mysteriously as he had appeared. A fortnight later, he came back, looking distraught and completely dejected with life. It seemed as though he had suffered a great personal tragedy. For days he neither spoke to anyone, nor did he eat a morsel of food. He locked himself up, in a dilapidated cabin in the woods, refusing to meet anyone. No one understood, what he was punishing himself for.

Saanvi watched from the side lines, as the entire village discussed this mystery man. It was as though, he was waiting for his death, one villager said. No, he must have committed a grave crime, for which he was punishing himself, said another. No, he must've lost everything in some tragedy, predicted yet another. Saanvi did not understand what all the fuss was about. She went to the cabin and knocked hard on the door. There was no response. She banged the door harder.

"Go away, leave me alone... get lost," he screamed from inside.

"Open the door right now. Who do you think you are? The entire village is speculating about you. Get out of that cabin NOW. Do we look like fools to you? If you had to die, why the hell did you let us nurse you back to health? Come on out now, or I'll bloody break this damn door!" she threatened. By now, a few more of her friends and family had gathered around the cabin.

He had come out then, looking miserable and completely devastated. His eyes were like embers of fire, red. "What-do-you-want?" he snapped at her, emphasizing each word while eyeing her menacingly.

Saanvi stepped forward, looking him in the eye. "Listen, I don't know what your problems are and I don't care. You've been given this life by Lord Shiv and he wants you to live. So there must be a damn good reason for it. Now, it's your job to find that reason. If you try to squander away your life one more time, I will kill you," she threatened and walked away.

Mrityunjay glanced down as Saanvi walked away. He went back into the wooden cabin and locked himself in. When he emerged from the cabin the next day, he went to the stream he was found in and jumped into it. The water was cold and sweet, the current gentle. After he had washed himself, he came out and went to Saanvi's house in wet clothes.

As Mrityunjay walked in, Syam Prasad Hesis, Saanvi's father was stunned to see the stranger walk in completely drenched. "Arey, what is this? How can you come into my house dripping wet like this?" he demanded, agitated with the stranger's attitude.

"I am hungry, give me some food," ordered Mrityunjay. Syam Prasad was pleasantly surprised.

"Sure, why not? Come in, but first change into something dry.” He gave some dry clothes to the young man. Mrityunjay changed and sat down to eat.

"Where's your daughter?" he asked about the girl. "She's gone to college," replied Syam Prasad. "What is your na..." he stopped midway as Mrityunjay glowered at him angrily.

"Say thank you to your daughter," said Mrityunjay.

"But you didn't tell me your name!" Syam Prasad asked again curiously, trying his luck. Mrityunjay remembered what Saanvi had called him, when he was saved by her family. "Neel," and he walked away.